Redhawks help Nordic team to historic victory

Members of the Nordic 17 Premier Girls team were awarded their New England Championship medals by Olympic Gold Medal and World Cup Champion Mia Hamm (center, in black). The team included Redhawks Laura Jennings, Paige DuBrul, Audrey Morehouse and Haliana Burhans. (Observer courtesy photo)

Champlain Valley Union High School soccer players Haliana Burhans, Paige DuBrul, Laura Jennings and Audrey Morehouse helped Nordic Soccer Club’s 17 Premier Girls team net the first win by a Vermont youth soccer team at a National Youth Soccer championship.

The team recently returned from the Y League National Finals, held at the IMG Academy in Florida.

After an initial 3-0 loss to New York Magic in their opening game, Nordic rebounded with a close 1-0 victory over TSF Academy from New Jersey. Burhans scored the game’s lone goal midway through the second half.

In their final group game, needing a win to advance to the semi-finals, Nordic fell short to a FC America team from Orlando, Fla., 7-2. Burhans tallied her second goal of the tournament, with an additional goal from Allyssa Tenney.

Nordic finished the tournament with a 1-0 victory over Quickstrike FC from New York, with Burhans adding to her tally of three goals in four games.

Nordic 17 Premier Girls qualified for the Y League National Finals after winning the New England Division of the Y league this past summer.